Blog as a web-based application build on user-generated content bypasses conventional gatekeepers such as editors, advertisers and official authorities (Lim, 2009). Kahn and Kellner argues that this feature enables blogs, and other internet activities to form part of new development in order to promote the consumer society, individualism and competition.
Blogs also serve another crucial function in order to shape a healthy democratic country. They enable ordinary people with an avenue for expression. They could debate and publish what they want to say especially about terrorism, war or political issues without having to deal with company policies or law constraints.
In the wake of the 11 September terror attacks and resulting terror war on a global degree, many of political activism has risen, with the internet such as blogs, wikis, online news or any alternative media playing an increasingly central role ( Kahn & Kellner 2004). Suddenly, anyone could blog on any subject, also a medium that people could debates and involved with real-time discussion with other bloggers.
Journalistic blogs such as Glenn Reynold's Indaspundit aggregates information from a network of site to give solid voices to people. Credible sources and professional shown in their blog as they actually from traditional media organisations (Wikipedia).
Glenn Reynold
(Source:themachoresponse.blogspot)
Factually, online sites are freer from government ownerships or interference. Blogs and other online sites are not restricted to any law constraints. Therefore the information given are detailed as compared to print newspapers. Also, materials providing context to events happening. For instance, the Asian Tsunami tragedy allow sharing of information on blogs about those missing, found of deal total and appeals for aid is much faster than traditional media..International News like Global Voices project which initiated by Harvard Law School's Berkman Center for internet and society to aggregate and drawing focus on marginalised people and areas overlooked by the mainstream media (Global Voices).
Online newspaper such as OhmyNews influenced the outcome of the South Korean presidential elections in December 2002 with the election of Roh Moo Hyun (Joyce, 2007). Journalist and author Antony Loewenstein discusses in the Blogging Revolution book review interview the issue of the freedom of speech in relation to blogging, especially in countries of a repressive regime like Iraq, China, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. However with modern technology and the development of the blogging movement, those citizens are able to express their freedom of speech.
In China, web courses are also held to encourage people to express forbidden subject like corruption or government propaganda. Also, Iraq and Egypt, their government allows the Internet to exist even in the poorest community as to boost living standards ( Loewenstein,2007). Recently, South Australia Attorney, General Michael Atkinson repealed a law that anyone posting comments or blogs during election period would have to give their real name and postcode. It is because, bloggers demand the right to publish their stories or opinions during election anonymously( abc.net.au, 2010)
Blogging is certainly making waves in several controversial issues. In 2007, Raja Petra Kamaruddin was interrogated by police for allegedly insulting the King, degrading Islam and inciting ethnic hatred and violence on alternative media site Malaysia Today (Reporters Without Borders, 2008). Here i include an additonal source from Aljazeeras Riz Khan with Raja Petra Kamaruddin(Part 1) and other guests discussed about the censorship of media in Malaysia:
To view another part of this video, please click this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbd9qetPLDc
References
ABC News, 2010, SA backs down on internet comment curb, viewed 11 June 2010,
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/03/2808495.htm
Global Voices, About Us, viewed 11 June 2010,
http://globalvoicesonline.org/about/
Joyce, M 2007, The citizen journalism website " OhmyNews" and the 2002 South Korean Presidential Election, The Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, viewed 11 June 2010,
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/sites/cyber.law.harvard.edu/files/Joyce_South_Korea_2007.pdf
Kahn, R, Kellner, D 2004, ' New Media and Internet Activism: From the 'Battle of Seattle' to blogging', New Media and Society, vol.6, no.1, pp.87-95.
Loewenstein,A.2007, The Blogging Revolution, Media Report, viewed 11 June 2010,
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2351985.htm
Lim, MK 2009, 'The Function of Blogs in Democratic Discourse', Journal of Global Communications, vol.2, no.1,pp.313-326.
Reporters Without Borders 2008, Leading blogger Raja Petra Kamararuddin released, viewed 11 June 2010,
http://www.ifex.org/malaysia/2008/11/07/leading_blogger_raja_petra_kamaruddin/
Wikipedia 2010, Glenn Reynolds, viewed 11 June 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Reynolds
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